Initiatives should be debated, not derailed

Jul. 8, 2012 12:00 AMThe Republic | azcentral.com

Gov. Jan Brewer and other Republican leaders may someday come to thank a recalcitrant state Senate.

Senators balked at submarining a citizen initiative, forcing Brewer to drop plans for a fast-track special session to put a competing measure on the November ballot. Her spokesman called the turn of events "infuriating."

What was really infuriating was the scheming by Republican leaders seeking to derail the initiative. More than 365,000 people signed petitions to dump party primaries. Instead, all candidates would run in a single election, with the top two moving on to the general election. The aim is to promote moderate voices.

Party leaders hate the idea, so they concocted the idea of placing a competing measure on the ballot. Sow confusion, and you get people to vote no.

Brewer and legislative leaders might have sunk the initiative, but they risked a backlash from voters who don't like elected representatives telling them they're stupid. That backlash would have been directed at Republicans.

Because enough senators refused to go along, the party is spared that risk. The open-primary initiative can be debated openly on its merits, with supporters and opponents making their case.

That's the way the democratic process is supposed to work. Thanks to the senators who did the right thing.